First day back as Second semester student

In actual fact Monday was our first day back, but that was just for lecture. Mrs Beatty talked about chronic illnesses in general and diabetes in particular in Medical/Surgical Nursing. And Mrs Curry gave the Professional Nursing II lecture. Looks like a lot of the focus this term will be on the nurse's role as a teacher. Not my favorite aspect of the job.

But today we started back at AV Hospital, now old hands at the job; no longer wet-behind-the-ears first-semester students. It was my first 12-hour shift ever. I've often wondered why nurses do 12-hour shifts. Here are people who especially need to be on their toes, and they're working these exhaustingly long hours. But I actually liked being on the floor all day. My feet didn't like it, but I did.

I had more time to get things done, for one thing. And it felt more real, being there for almost the same time as the nurses (we leave a little bit before the 7 pm shift comes on), and getting to see the patients through the whole arc of the day.

I still felt crazed and overwhelmed and ignorant. But I remembered some stuff from last semester, and all in all it was a good day.